We've had several discussions in the past regarding the need to address the cormorant over population problem...and their detrimental effect on the Nipissing fishery.It looks like the reclassification initiative, first started in 2016, is now finally being resurrected once again.

Was on Quinte in Trenton last summer and saw more cormorants than we could ever shoot. Plus, they are in town. Unless they are going to oil eggs or somehow otherwise eliminate them (I am sure there is no appetite for poisoning them etc) I cannot see how we would touch this population.

From what I'm reading the mnr is trying to implement changes to the regs so that you are allowed to let the cormorants spoil after being shot.I am figuring there will be ample sportsman engaging in this practice if the regs do get changed,I can think of a few myself.All in all,another step in the right direction even if you do have to retrieve and dispose of them.

Agreed Warlock.With a bag limit of 50/day they're pretty much approaching this as a disorganized cull. There will be some push back, as there always is, regarding the inhumane nature of reducing the population this way. But it effectively takes the cost, expense and time required to limit the birds numbers (through means such as egg oiling and nesting disruption programs etc) out of the hands of the OMNRF and puts it squarely into the hands of hunters. Virtually no cost in terms of dollars or manpower, to the OMNRF, to initiate some form of population reduction in this manner.CO's likely won't be spending anytime monitoring or enforcing the regs surrounding the hunting of this species. How effective this means of controlling the population will be...only time will tell. There's been varied results in the US where the same method has been tried. But its a necessary step that needed to be untaken...particular for many of the small northern lakes that have been decimated by cormorant numbers.